Game-of-chance apparatus



@ Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

(No Model.)

S. T. NIMMO. GAMB 0F CHANGE APPARATUS.

PATENT trice.

SIDNEY T. NIMMO', OF BALTIMORE,` MARYLAND.

GAM E-OF-CHANCE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,930, dated September 1, 1896.

y' Application tiled May 7,1896. Serial No. 590,599. (Nomodel.)

` T a/ZZ whom it Hwy/concernf Be it known that I, SIDNEY T. NIMMo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the StateV of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Game-of-Ohance Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a game-of-chance apparatus in which I have provided a series of vertically-movable tablets or indicators provided with letters or other characters or inscriptions, combined with means for arbitrarily projecting a group or series of said tablets or indicators. One of the purposes of my apparatus is an amusing and instructive game in which the persons participating therein are required to spell a word or words from the letters on the tablets or indicators projected into view, but I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the lifting .the RINO???- use of letters on the tablets or indicators, because I am aware that pictorial representations and other kinds of inscriptions may be used on the tablets or indicators.

lWith these ends in vie'w, and such others as pertain to an apparatus of this character, my invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying' drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view showing a group of tablets or indicators exposed to view. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated by the dotted line fr a: of Fig. 3, showing in dotted lines the means whereby the platform may be oscillated or turned in a horizontal plane and lifted in avertical direction. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation on the plane indicated by the dotted line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a det-ait perspective view of the lever and cam mechanism vwhich I prefer to use as the means foifoscillatingv and Like letters of reference indicate correi spending parts in all the figures of the drawings, referring to which- A designates the inclosing case of my game apparatus, which, as shown, is of square form and of suitable dimensions to contain all of the operating parts of the apparatus 5 but the shape and size of this casing A may be varied within wide limits by a skilled mechanic in constructing the apparatus or by the manufacturer in placing the apparatus on the market. The upper end of the casing A is normally closed by means of a cover or head B, which is constructed to house or inclose within itself the series of tablets or indicators and to serve as a means for guiding thel tablets or indicators in their vertical movement or play when they are projected up from the head or cover B or are lowered and withdrawn within the head or cover. The head or cover B is hollow or in the form of a chamber, as at b,

and in the top and bottom walls of this hollow cover are formed the slots c and the openings c.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings the tablets or indicators C are in the form of at pieces of Wood or metal, and they are provided with pendent stems C', from which stems project the pins C. The slots c in the top of the cover are of such shape and size as to enable the tablets C' to tit snugly therein, and the openings c' in the bottom of the cover are shaped to receive the stems C of the tablets, whereby the tablets and their stems are properly guided in the cover. The slots c are arranged in any suitable way throughout the top side of the cover, and the openings d are similarly arranged in the bottom part of the cover and so that these openings c' are in vertical alinement with the slots c for the purposes ofreceiving and guiding the tablets and their stems ina proper manner. While I have shown the tablets as of square or reevtangular form and as provided with pendent stems and pins, I would have it understood that I do not strictly limit myself to the employment of this particular construction, as I am aware that the sha-pe and size of the tablets may be changed and that the pins on the "stems may be dispensed with, in which case the balls or projectors are adapted to act against the stems `or feet of the tablets. Nor'- mally the Vtablets or indicators 'are lowered and housed Wit-hin the chamber b of the cover, and the stems or feet C are projected below the bottom of the cover, as indicated by Fig. 3 of the drawings.

l will now proceed to describe my preferred mechanism for projecting the Agroup or series of tablets, and in this connection I would state that I believe myself to be the first to provide means whereby the4 group or series of t-ablets "may be "a1-bit rarily lifted or proj' eeted into View, the position or disposition yof the projecting means for the tablets being in no Wise und-er theeontrol or manipulation of the persons Aplaying the game, so that the particular ytablets or indicators projected in-to view-depend entirely upon the chance positionofj'he devices which serve as the means forlprojec'ting orvliftin-g the tablets or Vindicators. With-in the casing A, and below the cover -or `head )Bpis arranged -a platform D, *and Athis.platforinis provided with cavities or openingsd, fformin-g'seats for-a series'of balls or `spheres These balls or spheres E vare th'elm'eans vwhich in the presentinstance serve to-lift or .project theta'bletsor indicators into view; 'but I do :not "wish :tojbe VVunderstood as `strictly l`limiting myself to `the'em-ployment of balls-orfspheres,because-other devices an ay be employed for this `purpose. Erected 'within the asingAan dii-passing centrallythroughthe .platform QD, is a vertical `post AF, the-lowerend of which has apintle that is `fitted ina-stepbearingfin the bottomof the casingvA, w-hilef thelupperrend of :thispost hasaipintle f?, that is lsuitably fitted in Aan "aperture in `the head `or cover B, whereby the post is fitted Linthe casing infa manner to havevaturning fmove-v ment ina horizontal plane. VThe V.platform D is :arranged iin such relation tto the cover AB `and -the'projec'tors orspheres are of `-suehi size 'thatjvhen fthe parts are =in their-normal position theiprojectors or spheres do'not strike the `'feetjor stemsG'Iof the tablets or indicators. This arrangement enables the -projectors or spheres to Abe agitated -or moved on i Itheto'p surfaceof thefplat'formwithout interferenceiromthe stems orfeet Cof the-tablets, so` that the positionV of the-projectors or spheres maybe chan-ged to-bringfthemin alinement with diiferent tablets or indicators. To adapt tlre projectors or spheres/to liftthe tablets or indicators, 1I mount 4the platform D `yWithin the lcasi-'ngdn `order-that it=may have a limited vertical fplay 1or movement therein, yand-Vas yone vmeans 'for agitating the projectors or `sphei-"esAsofas `to change theirposition I have 6'0` provided means Wherebylthe platform may bebscillated` or iturnedina 4horizontal plane. To attainuthese ends, -the upright fpost 'F is provided With=a longitudinahkey f .g'andfthe platform "Dhasfa-lsleeve 'or hub df, which --is struction itwill be seen that the platform is platform,fina horizontal direction.

so connectedwith the post that it turns or oscillates Vwith `the post ina horizontal plane, and at the same time the platform is capable of a vertically-sliding movement on the post. To turn the post and the platform which is keyed thereon in a horizontal plane, I have provided a lever mechanism adapted to be operated by one of the persons participating in thegame, and this lever mechanism is so constructed that a cam device may be operated by the player for the purpose of giving to the platform D the proper vertical movement in order to cause the projectors to engage the feet'or stems of the tablets, so as to lift the stems and tablets and thereby project or throw a group or series of the tablets intoto the'ba'r H, on one side thereof, and they are-arranged i-n alinement with eachother. .'lhe slide -Iiits -in the :keepers or guides to havefa longitudinal or reciprocating movement therein, and `this slide is `connect-ed by the 'keepers -With the barili-I, sothat-an y hori zontal movement imparted to `the 'slidewill move the bar H,=and with it the postand Atandntermediate `point fof 'its length this `slide is `formed with 1a xlongitlixdinal recess or slot t, and iin this slot or recess is i'ttedtlie frictionroller c', which lroller is ,journaled in a suitable yWay-on the `slidefto `becarried therewith in its vbaclrfand'forth movements. The camlever J is fulcrumed-atfone'end-tothe bar `Il, asat.j,and near its free or unconiinedend the -cam-lever Ais ,provided `With -a cam-shaped projectionJl, which lies 1in the path of the roller t' on `the slide 1, "and `which is adapted toiitin theirecess yor Vgroove t" of the slide when the cam-lever-J is lowered. The free end lof the cam-lever, beyondlthe cam projection -Jitl1ereon, `carries a friction-roller J which is adapted `to ride yagainst the `under 'side of the platformiDlwhen the cam-lever J lis raised. All'of these parts are housed and ing` A, and the inner `end of 'the stem is attached, lin a suitable Way, to one end of the The outeror exposed fend -of the "stem has a finger-piece it', which a'ffordsa convenient means for grasping the stem for IIO operating the slide I, the bar H, and the camlever to impart the necessary movements to the platform D.

The horizontal turning movement of the bar H and the post, and consequently the horizontal oscillation of the platform D, is limited in one direction by means of the stop L, which is fixed to the bottom of the casing A and lies in the path of the bar H. This stop L is preferably provided with a buffer Z, which serves to ease up and reduce the shock on the bar H and the associated parts when the bar H is drawn or pulled against the stop by the recoil action of a returning-spring M, one end of which is fastened to the bar H and the other end suitably attached to the casing A. The stem K is turned in a horizontal direction and moved through the slot 7c in order to move the bar H away from the stop L, and then this stem is released, so that the spring M will pull the bar H, and the parts carried thereon, back to normal position, so that the bar H will strike against the stop L, the shock resulting from which impact causes the projectors or spheres E to be agitated and distributed over the surface of the platform D indiscriminately without being influenced in any way by the players, whereby the proj ectors or spheres are caused to take various positions beneath the indicators or tablets. The platform D, and with it the projectors or spheres, can be lifted only when the projectors are in proper vertical alinement with the stems or feet of a group or series of tablets, and to this end I provide a stop N, which lies in the path of the slide I, so as to prevent endwise movement of the slide necessary to cause the roller I to lift the cam-lever, except when the platform D occupies the proper position for the projectors to raise the tablets. When the bar H is pressed by the spring M against the stop, the platform is held by the upright post F, to which it is keyed in a position where the seats cl thereof are in alinement with the tablets, and the projectors or spheres E are thus arrangedto engage with the stems C when the platform is raised, so that the projectors serve to lift the tablets and thereby expose them to view above the top or cover B of the apparatus. In this posit-ion of the platform and the projectors thereon the stop N is in such relation to the slide I that the stem K can be pushed inward to move the'slide I endwise alongside of the stop N, and thus the roller t' of the slide presses against the cam J/ of the lever J to raise the lever J and press its roller J l against the platform D, whereby the platform and projectors are lifted to raise a certain group or series of the tablets or indicators. When the stem K is pulled outward, the slide I is drawn back, and the Weight of the platform and proj ectors serves to lower the parts and press the lever J back against the bar H and cause the cam of the lever to enter the slot or recess in the slide I. I may use any desired number Of tablets or indicators C and one or a series alphabetical letters and to use four or more projectors to raise and expose a sufficient number of tablets, the letters of which may be arranged or combined to form a word or words; but it is evident that the :number of tablets and projectors employed may be varied within Wide limits.

As a convenient means for introducing the projectors or spheres into the casing A, an aperture O isprovided in the casing on a plane above the platform D, and this aperture is designed to be closed by a slide or door o. When the door is opened to expose the opening O, the projectors may be placed on top of the platform D, after which the door is closed to prevent the projectors from escaping when they are agitatedor moved within the casing. Y

To prevent the projectors or spheres from rolling off the platform when they are Aagitated or rolled around on top of the platform, I have provided the retaining ring or annulus P, which'is fixed within thecasing and extends a suitable distance verticallytherein to keep the projectors on the platform, no matter whether the platform occupies its raised or lowered position. The platform is adapted to move within the ring or annulus, which assists in guiding the platform in its vertical movements, and when the balls or projectors are whirled they strikeV against and rebound from the retaining-ring, which thus serves as a buer to the projectors. f

The upward movement of the platform, under the pressure or lifting force of the camlever J, is limited by the stops Q, which are fastened tothe buffer or retaining-ring P.

In the casing A is fitted a sliding drawer R, which is suitably guided in the. casin g and which may be partially or wholly withdrawn therefrom. This drawer may contain the balls or projectors when they are not in use.

This being the construction of my game apparatus, the operation may be briefly described as follows: With the platform occu-v pying its lowered position, the door ois opened and the player introduces a series of projectors- (three, four, or more) through the opening O and deposits them upon the platform, after which the door is closed. The operator now moves the stem K horizontally through the slot la, thus turning the slide I, the bar K, the post F, and the platform D, after which the stem is released and the spring M pulls the bar H against the buffer-stop L. The platform is brought to a position by resting against the stop L, where the seats d in the platform are properly alined with the tablets, but the oscillation of the platform and the shock due to its impact against the buffer- IOO IIO

stop sets the balls or projectors to whirling face of the platform D until they come to a period of rest and occupy certain of the seats d in the platform. The operator now pushes the stem K and slide I inward, whereupon the roller t' acts against the cam of the lever, so as to raise the free end of the lever J and cause its roller to press a-gainst the platform and thereby lift or raise the platform a proper distance. The platform carries up with it the projectors E, which in turn press against the stems of certain of the indicators to project the latter through the slots c in the cover B, thereby exposinga group or series of tablets to view, which group of exposed tablets correspond in number to the number of projectors ernployed in the apparatus, while all the other tablets or indicators remain housed and concealed within `the cover or top B. The players now endeavor to group the letters on the exposed tablets to form one or more words. The stem K is now withdrawn to pull the slide I outwardly and allow the lever J, the the platform D, and the proj ectorsto descend to their normal positions, after which the stem K is again turned horizontally to allow the spring M to draw the bar -II forcibly against the buffer-stop L and whirl the projectors over the platform, thus grouping or disposing the projectors in different positions or combinations beneath the tablets or indicators. The stem K is again .pushed in to cause the slide-roller t' to lift the lever J and raise the platform to bring the projectors against the stems of the tablets, thereby exposing another or different group of tablets to View, from the letters on which exposed tablets the players endeavor to form other words.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportionof parts and in the details of construction herein shown and described as the preferred embodiment of my invention may be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a game apparatus, the combination with a series of tablets, of a series of projectors adapted to be grouped arbitrarily into alinement with different tablets, and means for lifting the projectors and the tablets with which they aline, whereby a group of tablets lifted by the series of projectors may be exposed to view, as and for the purposes described.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination with a suitable casing, a platform, a series of projectors movably supported by said platform and adapted to be seated thereon in alinement with a corresponding number of tablets, and means for moving said platform and projectors vertically, whereby a group of tablets may be exposed to view when the platform `and projectors are moved toward the tablets, as and for the purposes described.

3. AIn a game apparatus, the combination of a series of tablets, a platform, one or more projectors carried on said platform and adapted to be seated indiscriminately or arbitrarily into alinement with one or more of said tablets, and means for moving the platform and projectors vertically, as and for the purposes described.

4.. In a game apparatus, the combination of a number of tablets or indicators, a platform, a seriesof movable projectors carried by said platfor1n,and adapted to be seated indiscriminately thereon and in operative relation to said tablets or indicators,and means for lifting the platform and projectors, as and for the purposes described.

5. In a game apparatus, the combination of anum ber of indicators or tablets,a vertically movableplatform, means for raising said platform, a series of projectors carried by the platform, and means for agitating the projectors to group them arbitrarily at different times in operative relation to different tablets or indicatorssubstantially as and for the purposes described.

6. In a game apparatus, the combination of a casing, independent indicators or tablets normally concealed from View within the casing, a platform, a series of projectors carried by said platform and adapted to be seated thereon in alinement with cert-ain of the tablets or indicators, means for moving `the platform and projectors vertically, and means for agitating the projectors on the platform and grouping them arbitrarily in alinement with different indicators atdifferent times, as and for the purposes described.

7. In a game apparatus, the combination of indicators or tablets, a series of projectors, and a platform capable of vertical play and of horizontal movement, substantially as and for the purposes described.

S. In a game apparatus, the combination of a series of indicators or tablets, a platform mounted to turn in a horizontal plane and to have vertical movement relative to the tablets, a series of projectors carried by the platform and adapted to expose certain of the `tablets when the lplatform is raised and to be agitated or whirled on the platform when the latter is turned horizontally, and a single operating mechanism whereby the platform may be given its vertical and horizontal movements, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. In a game apparatus, the combination with indicatorsor tablets, and suitable projectors, of a post, a platform keyed to said post to turn therewith and capable of sliding vertically on the same, a slide-bar so connected with the post as to turn the samein a horizontal plane and also of having endwise movement without 'disturbing the post, a lifter operated by the slide-bar when the latter is moved endwise, and suitable stop devices, as and for the purposes described.

lO. In a game apparatus, the combination with suitable indicators, and suitable pro- IOO IIO

jectors therefor, of a post, a platform keyed thereto, a horizontal bar having suitable guides, a slide fitted in the guides, and a camlever fulcrumed on the horizontal bar and arranged in the path of the slide to be actuated thereby to lift the platform, as and for the purposes described.

11. In a game apparatus, the combination with a series of indicators or tablets, and suitable projectors therefor, of a platform which carries the projectors, aud a spring-controlled operating mechanism designed to give a shock or jarring motion to the platform to agitate or whirl the projectors thereon and also to move the platform vertically, as and for the purposes described.

12. In a game apparatus, the combination with indicators, and projectors therefor, of a platformcapable of vertical movement and of horizontal movement during the intervals between its vertical movement, a spring-controlled bar, a stop or buer in the path of said bar, a slide, and a lifter operated by the slide to impart the vertical movement to the platform and projectors, as and for the purposes described.

13. In a game apparatus, the combination of indicators a vertically movable platfom, movable projectors carried by said platform and seated thereon in operative relation to said indicators, means for agitating the projectors means for lifting said platform and projectors to expose the indicators, and a suitable retainer arranged to prevent the pro` jectors from being displaced from the platform, as and for the purposes described.

14. In a game apparatus, a casing provided with a hollow or chambered top or cover, a series of tablets or indicators provided with feet or stems which are guided in suitable openings in the cover, a platform mounted for vertical and horizontal movement within the casing, projectors carried by the platform, and a single operating device connected with said platform to give to the same the desired vertical movement and horizontal play for the purpose of dispersing and arbitrarily grouping the projectors thereon, as set forth.

15. In a game apparatus, the combination of a number of indicators or tablets, a verticallymovable part, and one or more projectors carried by and movable arbitrarily on said vertically-movable part and adapted to be seated on the same in alinement with different indicators, to expose arbitrarily to view dierent indicators or tablets, as and for the purposes described.

16. In a game apparatus, the combination with a casing, of a number of indicators normally hid from view by said casing, a movable part, a device or devices movable or adjustable on the movable part to different positions relative to the indicators, and means connected with said movable part to adjust it and the device thereon toward the indicators or to impart to said movable part a shaking motion for the purpose of changing the position of the device or devices relative to the indicators, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof 1 affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIDNEY T. NIMMO.

W'itnesses:

H. I. BERNHARD, W. CLARENCE DUvALL. 

